The day of the engagement had arrived, but Aarohi's heart was far from celebratory. Sitting in her room, draped in the exquisite red and gold lehenga her mother had picked out, she felt like an imposter. The mirror reflected a bride-to-be, radiant and perfect, but she couldn't recognize herself.
Her phone buzzed incessantly with messages from Tanya. Are you okay? one text read. Another said, Call me if you need anything. Aarohi ignored them all. What could she even say? That she wanted to run away? That she was terrified of what her life would become after today?
The door creaked open, and her mother entered, beaming. "Aarohi, you look stunning! Everyone's waiting. Come downstairs."
"Maa," Aarohi said hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her mother turned, noticing the hesitation in her daughter's voice. "What is it, beta? Are you nervous? That's normal. Every bride feels this way."
"It's not just nerves," Aarohi said, standing up abruptly. Her chest felt tight, the words she'd been holding in threatening to spill over. "I don't think I can do this."
Her mother froze, her smile faltering. "What are you saying, Aarohi?"
"I'm not ready, Maa," she said, her voice cracking. "This engagement... this marriage... I don't think I'm ready for any of it."
Her mother's expression hardened. "Aarohi, do you realize what you're saying? The guests are here. The arrangements are made. This is your engagement! How can you think about backing out now?"
"I'm sorry," Aarohi said, tears streaming down her face. "But I can't go through with this just because everyone expects me to. I don't even know Vihaan! I don't know if I want this life!"
Her mother's voice rose, trembling with anger and hurt. "Do you understand what this will do to your father? How can you be so selfish? He trusted you, Aarohi. He wanted nothing but the best for you. And you're going to humiliate him in front of everyone?"
The door swung open again, and her father walked in, his face clouded with concern. "What's going on?"
Her mother turned to him, her voice shaking. "She's saying she doesn't want to get engaged."
Aarohi's father looked at her, his face a mixture of shock and disappointment. "Aarohi, is this true?"
Aarohi opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat. She couldn't look him in the eye.
Her father's shoulders slumped, and for the first time, Aarohi saw tears in his eyes. "I never thought my daughter would do this to me," he said quietly. "I've always been proud of you, Aarohi. I thought you understood what family means. But maybe I was wrong."
Those words broke her. Her father's pride had always been her anchor, the one thing she worked so hard to preserve. Seeing his disappointment was like a knife to her chest.
"No, Papa," she whispered, shaking her head. "You're not wrong. I... I'll do it."
Her mother's face softened with relief, but her father's expression remained distant. He nodded once and left the room without another word.
---
When Aarohi descended the stairs, the room erupted in applause. Her relatives beamed at her, unaware of the turmoil beneath her poised exterior. The weight of the expectations in the room felt suffocating, but she plastered on a smile and walked toward Vihaan, who was waiting for her at the front.
Vihaan's eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, she thought she saw concern flicker across his face. But he said nothing.
The rituals began, each moment dragging on like an eternity. Aarohi's hands trembled as her father handed her the engagement ring. She felt like her own body was betraying her as she reached out to slide it onto Vihaan's finger.
The crowd cheered, and Vihaan took her hand, placing the matching ring on her finger. His grip was firm, but his touch felt distant.
As the ceremony concluded, Aarohi caught a glimpse of her father, who now looked proud once more. But the pain of what she'd sacrificed for that pride weighed heavily on her heart.
---
Later that evening, Aarohi retreated to her room, desperate for solitude. But her escape was short-lived when a knock at the door startled her.
It was Vihaan.
"Can we talk?" he asked, his tone calm but cold.
She hesitated before nodding.
They stepped out into the garden, the cool night air doing little to ease the tension between them.
"You didn't want this, did you?" Vihaan asked bluntly.
Aarohi looked away, unsure how to respond. "It doesn't matter anymore."
"It does," Vihaan said, his voice hardening. "I saw it in your eyes today. You didn't want to be there."
"And you think I don't know how you feel?" Aarohi shot back, surprising even herself with the sharpness of her tone. "You didn't want this either, Vihaan. You made that clear enough."
"At least I'm trying," Vihaan said, his frustration boiling over. "But you? You were ready to walk away. Do you even care about anyone but yourself?"
Aarohi flinched, his words cutting deeper than she expected. "You don't understand what it's like to be me," she said quietly. "I didn't have a choice."
Vihaan's jaw clenched. "None of us did. But we're here now, Aarohi. And if you're going to act like a victim the whole time, this won't work."
His words hung in the air, and Aarohi felt tears threatening to spill again. But she refused to cry in front of him.
"I'll do what's expected of me," she said, her voice steady but hollow. "But don't expect me to be happy about it."
Vihaan looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he sighed and walked away, leaving her alone in the garden.